It's got the jobs. Houston is the No. 1 city for job creation in the US. By a lot.

Greater Houston Partnership

Since 2003, about 650,000 jobs have been created in Houston, Reuters reports.

Between 2009 and 2013, its real GDP increased by 22%, more than twice as fast as the American economy as a whole.

Houston, Texas.Shutterstock

Much of Houston's booming economy can be attributed to its lucrative oil and gas industry. Oil brings jobs, from refineries and drillers, to office jobs at ConocoPhillips and Halliburton, both of which have their headquarters in Houston.

Housing is more affordable in Houston. The city didn't experience a housing bubble the way the rest of the country did.

It's exceptionally business friendly, and unlike most other big cities in America, Houston has no zoning code.

Houston got the go-ahead to build 64,000 homes in 2014.REUTERS

No zoning laws means the city is quick to respond to demand for housing and office space. In 2014, Houston was issued permits to build 64,000 homes — compare that to the entire state of California, which was issued 83,000 in 2014.